Club Bon Accueil became hooked on outrigger canoeing two years ago and now has the financial means to open the sport to more people in the community, thanks to a $25,000 federal government grant.
“We participated in Powell River Sea Fair in the corporate race,” said the French club’s secretary Marc Lavertu. “There was this fun canoe race and, as it turns out, the French club team won that race, which was really surprising.”
The club received a second surprise when it recently received a New Horizons for Seniors Program grant, awarded to community projects led or inspired by seniors. Most of the club’s membership is comprised of seniors.
According to Lavertu, winning the race inspired the club to include outrigger canoeing as one of its activities.
With money in hand, the club got together with Powell River Outrigger Club Society (PROCS) and, with its expertise in outriggers, shopped around for a canoe.
The club found a six-person ultra-light outrigger demo model for $25,000. According to Lavertu, it was a good price for the technologically advanced canoe called a Vortex.
A Vortex is made of carbon-fibre as opposed to fiberglass. At 160 pounds, it is less than half the weight of the type of outriggers that PROCS owns. Most of the French club and PROCS members are over 60 years old and a lighter canoe makes it easier for seniors to engage in the sport, said Lavertu.
Now that the club has a canoe, it is developing an activity program in partnership with PROCS.
Lavertu said the program will be open to the whole community and public, not just francophones or seniors. Anyone from the general community will be welcome to come out on Powell Lake and give it a try, he said.
“The mentoring side could be for people who have never been in a canoe,” said Lavertu. “Once they learn how to paddle and once they learn how to steer, they can encourage their friends to come out, or take a youth group out.”
One of the most important things that outrigger canoeing addresses is seniors fitness, according to PROCS members.
“The two things in seniors fitness that I see as important is flexibility and core strength,” said Sue Milligan, one of the founding members of PROCS. “That’s what keeps us healthy as we grow older.”
Former PROCS president Jan Walker said a number of PROCS members have competed at the world sprints in different years and different countries. Last year, one of the club’s teams won the senior masters Canadian Outrigger Association Cup, which is an accrual of points from different competitions.
“For a small club, we do really, really well,” said Walker.
According to the society, PROCS was created for individuals who enjoy being on the water, the spirit of competition and the camaraderie that surrounds outrigger paddling. For more information, go to powellriveroutrigger.weebly.com.
